Coiled tape magazine for embossing machines and the like



Apnl 7, 1964 D. TRAVAGLIO 3,127,989

COILED TAPE MAGAZINE FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sneet l INVENTOR. fl/JLNY 72m VA GL/O April 7;""1964 D. TRAVAGLIO 3,127,989

COILED TAPE MAGAZINE FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Qa/vy 7 m l AGL /o BY%MAM April 7, 1964 D. TRAVAGLIO COILED TAPE MAGAZINE FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-5heet 3 Filed March 6, 1961 TiqJLL. Ti.;.l2. G

044m 77mm 6.4/0

fi LM I ATTORNEYJ United States Patent Office 3,127,989 Patented Apr. 7, 1%64 3,127,989 CGILED TAPE MAGAZINE FOR EMEOSSING MAEHINES AND THE LIKE Dalny Travaglio, Berkeley, Calif, assignor to Dymo Industries, Inc., Berkeley, (Calif, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,669 7 Claims. (til. 2436-52) This invention generally relates to holders or magazines for containing and dispensing coiled material, and is more particularly directed towards such a device adapted for use with plastic or metal tapes as the same are fed from the magazine into a tape marking machine, such as an embosser. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 66,958, filed November 3, 1960, and now abandoned.

Tape embossing machines of the general type shown in US. Patents 2,275,670 and 2,415,526 have achieved considerable commercial success in providing an economical method of producing on the spot identification labels hearing any desired indicia. In general, such machines incorporate a tape holder or magazine as an integral part thereof, and considerable difficulty is frequently encountered by persons attempting to remove a partially completed roll of tape and/ or inserting a new roll of tape into the magazine, and then properly threading the free end of the tape through the embossing machine. In an attempt to overcome these difiiculties, a replaceable magazine unit of the type disclosed in US. Patent 2,930,465 was developed. While such unit possesses numerous advantages over the fixed magazine type of construction, it has been found expensive to manufacture and assemble, problems have developed in connection with the feeding of excess 'tape back into the magazine, and the manner of attaching the magazine to the embossing machine was not completely satisfactory.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a magazine for containing a coiled strip of metal or plastic tape which may be economically produced, and then rapidly assembled with the tape therein and in condition for operative association with an embossing machine or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magazine of the character described which may be easily molded in the form of integrally connected complementary half sections so as to permit the insertion of the tape therein, and then folded and secured together with means being provided to insure proper alignment and registration of the sections in their completed form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described in which integral means are provided to minimize friction between the outer convolution of the coiled tape so as to facilitate the free movement of the tape in both feeding the tape from the magazine and recoiling excess tape back into the magazine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a magazine as above referred to which may be readily and simply secured into proper operative position on an embossing machine without requiring any separate fastening elements, tools or the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tape magazine as above described in which means are provided adjacent a peripheral portion of the coiled tape permitting engagement of the tape by a finger of the user.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing may be made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hand embossing machine with the magazine of the present invention in operative position thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the magazine after the initial molding operation and illustrating the complementary half sections before folding and securing thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a slightly different form of embossing machine with a modified form of magazine positioned thereon.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view, similar to FIGURE 5, of the magazine as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 during the formation thereof.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of another form of hand embossing machine with another embodiment of a magazine incorporated therewith.

FIGURE 11 is an end elevational view of the magazine shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 12-12 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 13-13 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 14 is a plan view, similar to FIGURES 5 and 9 of a plan view of the magazine illustrated in FIGURES 10-13 during the formation thereof.

In broad terms, the magazine of the present invention, when in operative condition, generally includes a tape coil receiving chamber and a generally tangential discharge opening from which the free end of the tape may be fed, such as for further feeding through a tape marking machine. In certain of the hereinafter described embodiments, a tangential extension is provided in communication with such opening.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 through 6 of the drawings, a magazine 12 is disclosed adapted for operational use on a hand embossing machine 13. As will be later described in greater detail, the magazine contains a quantity of a tape strip 14, the latter being in the form of a continuous coil 16 so as to minimize space requirements.

In greater detail, and with particular reference to FIG- URE 5, it will be seen that the magazine is formed of an integral piece of material, such as molded polypropylene or polyethylene. Such materials in appropriate thicknesses possess sufficient rigidity as to be form-retaining, but likewise possess sufficient resiliency to permit ready forming and attachment to the machine 13, as will be later described. The blank 17, formed in a simple injection mold or the like, consists of two symmetrical sections 18 and 19, and is intended to be hinged or folded about its line of symmetry by means of a flexible membrane 21 which integrally joins the respective sections. Each section is provided with a base portion 22 of generally circular configuration which includes a planar wall 23 having an upstanding peripheral flange or wall 24 provided thereon. A tangential extension 26 is provided in coplanar relationship with the base wall 23, and such extension likewise includes a flange 27 along its outer edge. The base flange 24 terminates outwardly of the center line of symmetry, and for a purpose later to be described, it will be noted that at the end of the base remote from the extension, but in longitudinal alignment therewith, the base wall is slotted, as indicated at 28, with the flap hinge or membrane 21 extending from the front end 29 of the extension to the base of the notch 28.

Regarding the hinge 21, it will be seen that the same is formed of a generally inverted U-shaped configuration with the height being substantially the same as the height of the flanges 24 and 27.

With the foregoing construction in mind, the magazine or cartridge of the present invention may be readily formed from the blank 17 by merely placing a coil 31 of the strip in one of the base cavities defined by wall 23 and flange 24 of one section, and then folding or hinging the other section about the membrane 21 until the ends of the flanges 24 and 27 are brought into abutting relationship. In such closed position, the base walls 23 define the side walls of the magazine, the flanges 24- provide the end wall, and a generally enclosed coil receiving chamber 33 is defined by the side and end walls. In addition, the extensions 26, flanges 27 and membrane 21 cooperate to define a relatively fiat elongated tangential extension having a passage 34 in communication with the chamber 33.

The tape coil may then be manually contacted through an opening 36 defined by notches 28 so that the free end of the tape strip 14 can be fed through the passage 34 of the extension.

Means are provided for facilitating proper alignment and registry of the respective sections when brought from the position illustrated in FIGURES and 6 to their closed or operative position illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings. Such means preferably include a plurality of bosses 38 extending upwardly from the base walls 23 adjacent spaced portions of the base flange 24. In the particular form illustrated, the base wall is formed of generally polygonal configuration and the bosses are provided adjacent the intersection of each side. Additional bosses are provided on the exterior surface of the extension flanges 27. The bosses 38 of one of the sections are provided with apertures 39, and the bosses of the complementary section are provided with studs 41, so that when the sections are brought into operative position, the studs 41 will engage the apertures, thus insuring proper registry of the sections, and likewise releasably holding the sections in closed relation. If desired, to insure the positive closing of the sections, a hot tool may be placed at spaced locations 45 along the juncture of the flanges, thereby heat sealing the sections into a permamently closed condition.

As another important feature of the magazine, means are provided for releasably connecting the same to the machine 13, and here too, such means are integrally molded with the other portions of the blank 17. Such means, as here shown, are in the form of resilient wings or webs 4-6 generally interconnecting the extension wall 26 and base wall 23 at their juncture. Each web or wing has a detent stud 47 extending from the plane thereof for releasable attachments to the machine. To increase the resilient movement of the wings from and towards each other when installing and/ or removing the magazine, the base flange 24 is provided with a notch 48 adjacent the wing, with the respective notches defining a slot 49 in the end wall when in operative position between the two wings.

The embossing machine 13 with which the magazine is intended to be operatively associated may be of a generally conventional hand operated type, including a body portion 51 and an operating handle 52 having a pivotal connection 53 adjacent the forward ends thereof. A spring 54 is positioned between the body and handle to resiliently urge the latter into their inoperative position illustrated in FIGURE 1. Strip advance means, such as one or more friction rollers 56 are carried by the body, and one of such rollers may be manually actuated by a knurled hand wheel 57. Marking or embossing dies 58 are mounted adjacent the forward end of the machine, operable upon movement of the handle towards the body, such movement likewise resulting in step by step movement of the strip through the machine towards and through the front end of the body where a suitable shear member 59 is provided for cutting the strip.

The rearward portion of the body is of generally channel-like form including a web 61 and opposed side walls or flanges 62. The magazine 12 is adapted to seat in the channel with a portion of the side walls 23 positioned adjacent the respective flanges 62, and a portion of the end wall 24 and the hinged membrane 21 disposed against the inner surface of the web 61. In such position, the tape strip which may be advanced from the magazine through the slot 36 is positioned adjacent the feed means 56 for movement through the dies. As best seen in FIG- URE 3 of the drawings, the flanges 62 are provided with opposed apertures 63 into which the detent studs 47 may snap when the magazine is properly inserted into the channel. The rear end of the body 51 may have a down ward extension 66 at its rear portion, conforming to the contour of the magazine body to assist in the proper alignment and seating of the magazine in the channel.

In FIGURES 7 to 9, a modified form of magazine 71 is illustrated which incorporates all the advantageous features of integral construction above discussed, but which is particularly adapted for use with a marking or embossing machine of the type explained which has a relatively solid body 72 and consequently no channel portion for receiving the magazine.

In this modification, an integral blank 73 is utilized having two complementary half sections 74 and 76. Each section includes a circular base wall 77 and an upstanding peripheral flange 78. An extension 79 extending tangentially from the wall 78 in coplanar relation thereto is provided, and here the extension is provided with flanges 81 extending along each edge thereof. It will be noted that the extensions do not lie along the line of symmetry as in the previously described blank 17, but instead converge towards such line from the body to form a generally V- shaped configuration. Spaced integral hinge flaps in the form of a membrane 82 connect the front adjacent ends of the extensions and a similar membrane 83 joins the two body sections at their adjacent portions, each of such membranes being disposed along the line of symmetry of the two sections. The flanges 78 are notched as shown at 84, and a similar notch 86 is provided on each of the extension flanges 81 so that when the two sections are hinged into operative closed position with a tape coil 31 positioned in the defined body chamber 87, the tape may be normally engaged through a slot 88 in the body as well as a slot 89 in the magazine.

The two sections are provided with bosses 91 respectively provided with studs 92 and apertures 93 for aligning the sections in their closed position. Here too, after the sections are closed, the base Walls 77 provide the side walls for the magazine, and the base flanges 78 define the end walls, and the latter, at their juncture, may be heat sealed together as indicated at 94.

To mount the magazine on the machine body 72, wings 96 are provided on the body adjacent the tangential connection of the extensions 79. In this case, the wings carry inwardly directed stud detents 97 which are adapted to seat in a bore 98 drilled through the body 72. Since the wings extend freely from the body, they may be readily spread apart to permit their installation and removal from the body.

In FIGURES to 14, a still further modification of magazine is illustrated which possesses substantially all of the previously discussed features, but in which the extensions 26 or 79 of the other embodiments have been eliminated, and a diflerent form and position of tape engaging opening or port is provided.

The magazine 102 is shown in FIGURE 10 operatively positioned on a marking or embossing machine 103. The latter is provided with a body portion of channel-like configuration including opposed side walls 104 and a connecting top wall 106, and as will be presently explained in greater detail, approximately one-half of the magazine 102 is contained Within walls 104 by means of a resilient releasable connection therewith.

In this modification, the magazine is formed from a blank 107 having two symmetrical complementary sections 108 and 109. Each section generally includes a base wall 112 and an upstanding peripheral flange 113. The adjacent flange portions on opposite sides of the line of symmetry of the two sections are hingedly connected by a flexible integral membrane 114 whereby the sections may be folded from their open position illustrated in FIG- URE 14 to their closed operative position shown in FIG- URES 11, 12 and 13.

Aligned flange portions adjacent the hinge 114 are cut away or notched as indicated at 116 so that as the sections are hinged into operative position with the tape coil 31 disposed in a chamber 117 defined by the sections, an end of the tape may be discharged through an opening 118 extending through the magazine in communication with the chamber. As shown, the ends of each flange adjacent the opening 118 extend inwardly into the chamber in the form of projections 119 to assist in maintaining the tape coil in proper form and guiding the free end of the tape through the discharge opening 118.

As in the case of the other embodiments, the sections 108 and 109 are provided with bosses, the bosses on one section having studs 121 and those on the other section having stud-receiving apertures 122, whereby the respective sections will be aligned in their closed position. When thus closed, the base walls 112 provide the side walls of the magazine, and the flanges 113 define the end walls, and the latter may be heat sealed as indicated at 124 to maintain the sections in closed relation with the tape coil positioned therein.

In order to permit manual engagement of the tape within chamber 117, a relatively large notch 126 is provided on each base wall 112 which extends inwardly from the flange 113 to substantially adjacent the center of the wall and in generally diametrically opposed relation to the discharge opening 118. As best shown in FIGURE 13 of the drawings, the base wall and flange at the outer peripheral portion of the notch are inwardly deformed for reenforcement.

The magazine is releasably secured to the machine 103 by the provision of stud detents 128 on the exposed outer surfaces of walls 112 substantially centrally thereof. Such detents are adapted for insertion in apertures 129 provided in the walls 104 of the machine body, and to permit ready insertion and removal of the magazine detents, the Walls 112 may be easily manually pressed inwardly in the detent area due not only to the inherent resiliency of the material, but the adjacent opening of the notches 126.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that in all of the illustrated embodiments, the magazine may be economically molded, and then readily assembled into operative position, and likewise easily mounted on the machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A magazine for containing a coil of tape or the like comprising a pair of substantially symmetrical sections each having a generally planar base and a normally related peripheral flange defining a tape coil receiving cavity, flexible means formed integrally with and connecting said sections at adjacent peripheral portions thereof along their general line of symmetry, said ,means being resilient whereby said sections may be folded into a closed position wherein said cavities define a substantially enclosed chamber and the ends of said flanges on the respective sections are in opposed abutting relation, said flanges adjacent said means being spaced'to define a generally tangential tape discharge opening, said bases having openings therein extending from adjacent the flanges to a medial portion of the base and defining an access opening to tape within said cavity, means securing said sections in said closed position, means on at least one of said sections adapted to engage spaced portions of the outer convolution of a tape coil and maintain the same in spaced relation to the major portion of the inner peripheral surfaces of said flanges, and detents extending outwardly from opposed base portions adjacent said access openings.

2. A magazine for containing a coil of tape comprising a pair of substantially symmetrical sections each of said sections including a base portion and a normally related peripheral flange, means connecting said sections together with the ends of the flanges on the respective sections being in opposed abutting relation and with the flanges and base portions of the respective sections defining a substantially enclosed tape coil receiving chamber, said flanges having aligned openings therein defining a tape discharge outlet, at least one of said sections having means spaced inwardly of the flange defining at least three tape coil engaging spacers disposed on said section in such manner as to generally center the tape coil in said chamber and maintain the outer convolution thereof in spaced relation to the major portion of the inner peripheral surface of said flanges.

3. A magazine for containing a coil of tape comprising a pair of substantially symmetrical sections each of said sections including a base portion and a normally related peripheral flange, flexible means formed integrally with and connecting said sections at adjacent peripheral portions thereof along their general line of symmetry, said sections being foldable about said means from an open tape coil receiving position to a closed position with the ends of the flanges on the respective sections being in opposed abut-ting relation and with the flanges and base portions of the respective sections defining a substantially enclosed tape coil receiving chamber, said flanges having aligned openings therein defining a tape idischarge outlet, at least one of said sections having means spaced inwardly of the flange defining at least three tape coil engaging spacers disposed on said section in such manner as to generally center the tape coil in said chamber and maintain the outer convolution thereof in spaced relation to the major portion of the inner peripheral surface of said flanges.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 in which said flexible connecting means is positioned adjacent said flange openings.

5. A tape magazine for containing and dispensing a coil of tape comprising a pair of substantially symmetrical sections, each of said sections including a base portion and a normally related peripheral flange, said sections being connected together with the ends of the respective flanges being in opposed abutting relation and with the flanges and base portions of the respective sections defining a tape coil receiving chamber, said flanges having aligned openings therein defining a tape discharge outlet, said base portion having opposed open ings therein extending from medial portions thereof to adjacent said flanges in peripherally spaced relation to said outlet and defining a manual opening to a coil of tape in said chamber, at least three spacer members positioned in said chamber inwardly of said flanges and peripherally positioned to generally center the tape coil in said chamber and maintain the outer convolution thereof in spaced relation to the major portion of the inner peripheral surface of said flanges.

6. A magazine as set forth in claim 5 in which at least one of said spacer members is positioned adjacent said discharge outlet.

7. A magazine as set forth in claim 6 in which one of said spacer members is positioned adjacent each end of the base portion access openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,062 Bauer Dec. 15, 1914 Seidel June 3, Guntermann et al. Feb. 13, Armitt Apr. 8, Wilkie Sept. 9, Zipf Mar. 10, Payne Feb. 11, Carlson June 6, Chaplin July 11, Strassler Apr. 14, Nykwist et a1. June 8, Cowan Aug. 24, Eljanian Aug. 27, Lotsch Mar. 29, 

1. A MAGAZINE FOR CONTAINING A COIL OF TAPE OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY SYMMETRICAL SECTIONS EACH HAVING A GENERALLY PLANAR BASE AND A NORMALLY RELATED PERIPHERAL FLANGE DEFINING A TAPE COIL RECEIVING CAVITY, FLEXIBLE MEANS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH AND CONNECTING SAID SECTIONS AT ADJACENT PERIPHERAL PORTIONS THEREOF ALONG THEIR GENERAL LINE OF SYMMETRY, SAID MEANS BEING RESILIENT WHEREBY SAID SECTIONS MAY BE FOLDED INTO A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN SAID CAVITIES DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSED CHAMBER AND THE ENDS OF SAID FLANGES ON THE RESPECTIVE SECTIONS ARE IN OPPOSED ABUTTING RELATION, SAID FLANGES ADJACENT SAID MEANS BEING SPACED TO DEFINE A GENERALLY TANGENTIAL TAPE DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID BASES HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN EXTENDING FROM ADJACENT THE FLANGES TO A MEDICAL PORTION OF THE BASE AND DEFINING AN ACCESS OPENING TO TAPE WITHIN SAID CAVITY, MEANS SECURING SAID SECTIONS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, MEANS ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SECTIONS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SPACED PORTIONS OF THE OUTER CONVOLUTION OF A TAPE COIL AND MAINTAIN THE SAME IN SPACED RELATION TO THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE INNER PERIPHERAL SURFACES OF SAID FLANGES, AND DETENTS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSED BASE PORTIONS ADJACENT SAID ACCESS OPENINGS. 